Serious crop stress during the grain filling period of corn increases the risk of stalk rots and stalk lodging (breakage) prior to grain harvest.

University of Illinois Extension discusses the potential fate of early nitrogen applied before heavy rains arrived in May, and whether more might be needed to be applied for crops this growing season.

University of Nebraska Extension explains how to avoid poor germination, soil moisture reduction, allelopathy and nitrogen deficiencies when planting corn into cereal rye.

No-tillers can take a Late Season Cornstalk Nitrate Test (LSSNT) to assess whether the corn crop had the right amount of nitrogen, too much nitrogen, or not enough.

When nitrogen (N) deficiencies occur early and mid-season, corn leaves on the lower part of the plant begin to turn yellow prematurely starting from the leaf tip and progressing towards the stalk. Lower leaves will be affected first as N is mobile and will be reallocated to the upper leaves. The yellow color will turn brown followed by death of lower leaves, leading to a condition known as firing.

How well did your nitrogen (N) program work in this "unusual"? year? Generally we have had higher rainfall than normal (but not everywhere) and we have been cooler than normal, all of which can have several consequences.

Corn is now in the seed filling growth stages (R2-R5) when nutrient demands are put on plant leaves as the seed kernels develop.

Plan. Watch. Act.

Recent rainfall across much of the Corn Belt has some growers wondering if they have enough nitrogen left in the soil for their corn crop.